Answers:

What is a Cell Number?

A. A Cell Number is a Steam Packet Radio term, which
defines a Frequency Hopping pattern. All systems, which use this Frequency
Hopping pattern, are said to be in the same Cell. Up to 25 Cells may be
co-located at a single central antenna location.

All Air-Frame 10 products are
pre-configured for Cell Number 0.

What is a Frequency Hopping Pattern?

A. A Frequency Hopping pattern (or Cell Number) is a pseudo
random pattern which defines the sequence in which the 77 1 MHz channels
within the 2.4 GHz band are used by the Air-Frame. Each Cell Number (or
Frequency Hopping Pattern) starts on a different channel.

How does Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology work?

A. Frequency Hopping Spread spectrum (FHSS) technology divides the
available spectrum into a large number (79) of 1 MHz channels. The radio
system then uses these channels in a pseudo random sequence (a Cell Number or
Frequency Hopping pattern) and literally hops from channel to channel (staying
a maximum of 400 ms on any single channel and visiting every channel every 30
seconds). Wireless signals are prone to interference, which is essentially
random in space and time. Frequency Hopping is a robust technology precisely
because it uses different channels all the time. The statistical
probability of interference on any channel is the same but the probability of
interference on more than one non-adjacent channels is very low. Frequency
Hopping is most likely to communicate most of the time. Technologies such as
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) on the other hand while offering higher
data rates have a much higher probability of failure since they occupy much
wider channels (typically 20 MHz) and hence are prone to interference in any
‘part’ of the channel. Direct Sequence technology has a statistically
significant possibility of never communicating in ‘noisy’ environments.

Do I need a license for the Air-Frame equipment?

A. No. Air-Frame uses the license-free 2.4 GHz ISM band. If
the equipment is to operate in Japan, Spain or France you will require a
country specific model.

Will Air-Frame work in any country?

A. The standard Air-Frame will work in all countries except
for Japan, France and Spain in which case country specific models will be
required.

A. The channels at the beginning and end of the spectrum
are not used to minimize interference from adjacent bands (called a ‘guard
band’). This leaves 79 operational channels (in most of the
world) for use by Air-Frame.

What is the 2.4 GHz band.

A.
The 2.4 GHz band operates in most of the world from 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz. It is
a license-free band which is sometimes referred to as an ISM band (Industrial,
Scientific and Medical). In the case of Japan the band operates from 2.471 to
2.497 GHz, in France from 2.4465 to 2.4835 GHz and in Spain from 2.445 to
2.475 GHz.

How many co-located cells can I operate with Air-Frame?

A.
Air-Frame 100 allows complete control over cell allocation and in theory
allows you to operate 79 co-located cells from any single mast or antenna
farm. In practice the risk of adjacent cell interface becomes
high above 12. However if your cells are all low volume (e.g. Telemetry or SCADA) then you can go well beyond 25 co-located cells. We recommend you never exceed 40 even in the lowest cell usage environment.